45-2402. Definitions

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in sections 45-101, 45-402 and 45-802.01 have the same meaning in this chapter and for purposes of this chapter:

1. " Authority" means the Arizona water banking authority.

2. " Banking fund" means the Arizona water banking fund.

3. " Central Arizona water conservation district" or " CAWCD" means the multi-county water conservation district established under title 48, chapter 22.

4. " Commission" means the Arizona water banking authority commission.

5. " Decree" means the decree entered by the United States supreme court in Arizona v. California, 376 U.S. 340 (1964).

6. " Excess central Arizona project water" means central Arizona project water that in any year would otherwise not be used, resold or exchanged pursuant to long-term contracts and subcontracts for central Arizona project water.

7. " Indian firming" means measures taken to ensure that central Arizona project non-Indian agricultural priority water that is made available to Indian tribes pursuant to Public Law 108-451 may be delivered during water shortages in the same manner that water with a municipal and industrial priority in the central Arizona project system is delivered during water shortages.

8. " Water banking services" means services provided by the authority to persons and Indian communities in this state to facilitate for those persons and Indian communities storage of water and stored water lending arrangements. Water banking services include the direct delivery of water to Indian communities in this state in replacement of or supplemental to the accrual of long-term storage credits pursuant to article 5 of this chapter. Water banking services include only arrangements by which water will be made available for use in this state. Water banking services do not include interstate water banking undertaken by the authority pursuant to article 4 of this chapter. Water banking services may include:

(a) Storage of water.

(b) Obtaining water storage permits.

(c) Accruing, exchanging and assigning long-term storage credits.

(d) Lending and obtaining repayment of long-term storage credits.

9. " Water banking services agreement" means an agreement entered into between the authority and a person or Indian community in this state under which the authority will provide water banking services to that person or Indian community.